Gardaí arrest 25 in metal theft operation

Gardaí have arrested 25 people as part of a 24-hour nationwide operation targeting metal theft.

Some 72 searches , 260 check points and 402 targeted patrols were part of the initiative which took place from Monday morning with the help of Revenue and Social Welfare officials, a Garda spokesman said today.

Of those arrests one person pleaded guilty and another was charged with handling, three people were charged with theft, three were charged with burglary,

Ten people were released pending a file being sent to the Director of Public Prosecutions and two were released pending a juvenile liaison office referral.

Three people were charged with road traffic offences, one was charged with obstruction offences and another appeared in court on foot of a bench warrant, a Garda spokesman said.

The move was part of an ongoing Europe wide operation targeting metal theft.

Last week Assistant Garda Commissioner Derek Byrne said the force was dealing with about 2,500 incidents of metal theft a year. At a time of high global demand for raw materials, thieves were targeting many types of metal, typically lead and copper but also, increasingly, steel, he said.

Items reported stolen included beer kegs, copper wire, road signs, manhole covers, roofing lead and even goalposts. There have also been a number of high-profile thefts of precious objects including public sculptures and religious relics.

“The rising demand for metal on the international market has pushed the price of metal upwards and has made it a more attractive criminal enterprise,” the assistant commissioner said.